Randy Moss was with the Patriots from 2007 until early in the 2010 season. (AP)

Randy Moss announced Monday morning that he hopes to return to the NFL in 2012. While he will inevitably be linked to the Patriots when it comes to a possible return to the NFL, here are five reasons why Moss won’t be walking through that door in Foxboro any time soon:

1. Moss’s skills have declined: Moss had a combined 28 catches for the three teams he played for in 2010 (nine for the Patriots, six for Tennessee and 13 for Minnesota). For most receivers in their thirties, that sort of stat line is a red flag, and that was more than a year ago. And history tells us that any time a player on the other side of 30 takes that much time away from the game, the skill set just isn’t there when they return. In his prime, Moss was a freakish athlete who did things on a football field that almost no one had ever seen before. (His 2007 season was one of the best of all time.) But the 35-year-old Moss isn’t going to be the same guy after a year away. It remains to be seen how he’d come to terms with his diminished skills (and role), and whether or not be accept a different job other than designated deep threat.

2. The Patriots offense has changed: When Moss was traded in October 2010 to Minnesota, it was the first step in a complete overhaul of the New England offense. Prior to that, the Patriots passing game could stretch the field and taking their shots deep. Now, the Patriots are more of a horizontal passing game, with slot receiver Wes Welker one of the best in the league when it comes to going over the middle, and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski now a complementary set of tight ends the likes of which the league has never seen. Deion Branch is not the receiver he once was (he no longer has the kind of wheels that he used to have), but has managed to get by on smarts and dependability. Even if Welker and/or Branch do not return, it seems unlikely the Patriots would try and reintroduce Moss into the offense. Remember — the Patriots had their opportunity to re-sign Moss last year. When they needed another receiver, they went for Tiquan Underwood instead of Moss, which should tell you all you need to know about where they think of Moss’ skill set at this point.

3. The Patriots must get younger at wide receiver: New England needs to go in the other direction at the receiver position. Branch (32), Welker (30) and Chad Ochocinco (34) are all closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. While the Patriots are a relatively young bunch at all of the other skill positions, they are starting to show their collective age at wide receiver, and the return of the 35-year-old Moss does nothing to make them younger. The free-agent market for wide receivers also doesn’t help Moss — it’s a group that includes Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Stevie Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Welker, all of whom are younger than Moss.

4. His return would impede the progress of young pass catchers like Hernandez and Gronkowski: In 2012, the two young tight ends combined to form one of the most dynamic offensive options in the game. With Moss on the scene, that would mean fewer chances in the passing game for both Hernandez and Gronkowski, which would certainly set their development back.

5. The Patriots know that with Moss, you’re always living on borrowed time, and most of the time, on his terms: Since the end of the 2007 season, the Patriots knew they were in for a short marriage with Moss, one that ultimately came to an end early in the 2010 season following a much-discussed incident with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. At some point along the way, Moss transitioned from someone who was clearly interested in putting the team first to someone who was worried about himself and his numbers. (Remember this?) With the Patriots having spent the better part of the last two years meticulously building a positive infrastructure in the locker room, it would be a risk to reintroduce a historically combustible individual like Moss back into that environment.

Moss is still beloved by many in New England. He showed up to owner Robert Kraft’s house as Kraft sat shiva following the death of his wife, and Kevin Faulk told NESN in an interview that Moss was waiting for him in his driveway a week ago when the running back returned from the Super Bowl. In addition, Patriots Bill Belichick — who has had plenty of opportunities to publicly lambaste Moss — continues to have nothing but good things to say about the receiver. Meanwhile, Moss has taken every chance to tell everyone how much he loved his time in New England with Tom Brady and Belichick.

But even with all that, don’t look for Moss to rejoin Brady and Belichick. The bottom line is that Moss needs the Patriots more than they need him. And considering the New England passing game has enjoyed unparalleled success since he was shipped out of town 16 months ago, at this point in Moss’ career, the risk far outweighs the reward.

Vince Wilfork is our highest-rated defensive player. (AP)

With the 2011 season in the rear-view mirror — and the Patriots facing a number of key personnel decisions — it seems like a good time to break down the current 53-man roster, taking a look at who might be the most valuable members of the franchise.

We arrived at this list by considering a combination of factors, including overall ability, positional versatility, expectations, contract situation and place on the depth chart. We also looked at what might be best described as intangibles — loosely defined as a mixture of clubhouse character and willingness to work. In all, it helped us determine the overall value of each player within the Patriots system.

A quick note: The 53 players were taken straight from New England’s postseason media guide, the most up-to-date listing available. That means injured players such as Andre Carter, Mike Wright, Jermaine Cunningham, Dan Koppen and Ras-I Dowling, as well as practice squadders, are not included for purposes of this exercise.

We started with No. 53 through No. 26. Here’s No. 25 through No. 1:

25. Punter Zoltan Mesko: A borderline Pro Bowler, Mesko had an excellent year and was singled out earlier this season by an NFL scout we spoke with who acknowledged his work when it came to helping the Patriots win the battle of field position, especially early in games when New England was struggling to score points. Should be one of the best in the league for years to come.

24. Defensive back Sterling Moore: Released by the Raiders in September, he ended up playing significant minutes down the stretch and into the postseason. He made what was likely the defensive play of the year when he knocked the ball out of the hands of Baltimore’s Lee Evans in the AFC championship game. Regardless of what the Patriots do in free agency or the draft, he has played his way into the regular rotation of defensive backs going forward.

23. Tackle Sebastian Vollmer: It was a lost season for the big German, who struggled with back and foot issues for much of the season. Presuming that left tackle Matt Light will return as the starting left tackle in 2012, Vollmer will face a fight for his starting job next year at the right tackle spot with Nate Solder.

22. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski: A very good year for Gostkowski, who remains one of the more steady and consistent kickers in the league.

21. Defensive lineman Kyle Love: Love is likely the best and most consistent young defensive lineman on the roster. He played roughly half the snaps for the Patriots this season at the defensive tackle spot, and gained a wealth of knowledge playing much of the season alongside Vince Wilfork. It will be interesting to watch his progression into 2012, especially with a lockout-free offseason.

20. Wide receiver Deion Branch: He’s not the receiver he once was, but he maximizes the tools that are still at his disposal, including his smarts, his knowledge of the game and his relationship with Tom Brady. Prior to a couple of ill-timed drops in the Super Bowl, he still showed a knack for coming up big in big moments. A free agent, he’s one of the really intriguing decisions the Patriots face this offseason.

19. Running back Stevan Ridley: An interesting rookie year — he showed genuine flashes of greatness at times, running the ball for 5.1 yards per carry with real explosiveness. But there were a couple of fumbles late in the season, which ultimately meant that an occasionally promising year ended on something of a sour note. With a good offseason (lockout-free), he could push BenJarvus Green-Ellis for the role of lead back in 2012.

18. Defensive end Mark Anderson: One of the pleasant free agent surprises of 2012 (along with Andre Carter and Brian Waters), Anderson saw his role expand over the course of the season from that of a pure third-down pass rusher to a more complete defender. He’s not quite a complete three-down player yet in the New England system, but certainly progressed over the course of the season. Like Carter, his better-than-expected performance on a one-year deal will leave the Patriots with a decision to make at the start of free agency.

17. Tackle Nate Solder: The Patriots’ Rookie of the Year, he had a very good rookie season, working as a right and left tackle, a part-time tight end as well as getting reps on special teams. (According to Pro Football Focus, he was eighth on the offense in total snaps with 1,044, more than veterans like Dan Connolly, Deion Branch and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.) He struggled in the Super Bowl, but will almost certainly push Vollmer for the starter’s job at right tackle in 2012.

16. Running back Danny Woodhead: An up-and-down season for Woodhead, but when he was on, it was clear he’s emerged as a mostly positive heir to Kevin Faulk as the teams’ third-down/changeup back. (He’s not the blocker Faulk is, but has shown himself to be a statistical equal in several other areas.) Woodhead had a very good Super Bowl, and stands ready to be an integral part of the New England offense going forward.

15. Cornerback Devin McCourty: A mixed bag this season for McCourty, who struggled mightily in coverage over the first half of the season but did show some improvement over the second half, returning to his old physical self. He flashed some versatility late in the regular season and into the playoffs with a move to safety on third down and other passing situations, and he didn’t appear overwhelmed when he made the switch. Like Julian Edelman, he’ll bear watching in minicamps and other OTA’s when it comes to where he lines up. What the Patriots ultimately decide to do with him could have a sizable impact on the rest of the secondary.

14. Linebacker Brandon Spikes: It’s no coincidence that the defensive numbers took an upturn when Spikes returned from a knee injury. One of New England’s best when it comes to stopping the run, Spikes is an up-and-comer who figures to be an important part of the defense for a long time. He’ll occasionally swing and miss badly, but if he stays healthy and can play a full season, there’s no telling what sort of impact he can have on the Patriots’ defense.

13. Offensive lineman Logan Mankins: Mankins had a surprisingly rough season at the left guard spot — it’s debatable how much of his struggles could have been related to the fact that he was asked to help out the four different centers he played next to over the course of the 2011 season. His overall body of work is still good enough to give him a relatively high spot on this list, but he’ll be one to watch through the early stages of the 2012 season to see if he’s been able to shake off whatever slowed him in 2011.

12. Tackle Matt Light: The veteran had a very good year at the left tackle spot, providing quality support for the blind side against an impressive array of opposing pass rushers. Like the rest of the offensive line, he had his problems in the Super Bowl against the Giants, but Light figures to be around for at least one more season.

11. Linebacker Rob Ninkovich: Signed as a long snapper, he’s become the closest thing the current team has to Mike Vrabel, right down to the No. 50 — a smart, versatile presence who can rush the passer, drop into coverage and set the edge as either a defensive end or outside linebacker. After appearing to struggle with some of his responsibilities when the Patriots moved from a three-man to a four-man front at the start of the year, he settled in nicely as one of the team’s most important defenders down the stretch. Only two players in the league this season had at least six sacks and two interceptions: Ninkovich and Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs.

10. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis: Like Deion Branch, Green-Ellis is a free agent who will force the Patriots to make a tough decision. He’s certainly not flashy, but his consistency (everyone knows about the fact he’s never fumbled as a pro, and he’s averaged a steady four yards per carry since he broke in in 2008) and ability to make something out of nothing (he led the team in offensive touches this season, but averaged just one negative play for every 19 times he touched the football) make him a good fit for the Patriots. If he does stick with New England, expect Ridley to compete for carries as the starting back in 2012.

9. Cornerback Kyle Arrington: Maybe the steadiest cornerback this season for the Patriots, he ended up tied for the league lead in interceptions with seven. He went wire-to-wire in six games this season, including the Super Bowl, and did a very good job limiting New York’s dynamic receiver Victor Cruz. Like Moore and McCourty, regardless of how things shake out in the draft and free agency, he’s played his way into a regular rotation at corner going forward.

8. Safety Patrick Chung: Like Spikes, it’s no shock that the New England defense saw an improvement after Chung returned from a foot injury. A steady and consistent influence along the Patriots’ back line, Chung has grown into a valued part of the Patriots’ defense. He’s not yet the type of player for whom opposing offenses have to game plan, but Chung should only improve if he stays healthy.

7. Linebacker Jerod Mayo: There’s no shortage of opinions on Mayo — he’s either a glorified pile-jumper who artificially pads his tackle stats and is lacking playmaking ability … or is a great stabilizing presence and leader for the Patriots’ defense who’s presence is measured in more than just numbers. Regardless, the franchise (and Bill Belichick in particular) thought enough of him to gift the linebacker with a new deal this past season, more than a year before his old contract was up, which means he’ll be around for the foreseeable future. He did appear to take a step back in a few areas this season, but it is worth asking how much of that was due to trying to cover for the group of new players up front and in the secondary.

6. Guard Brian Waters: The best free agent pickup the franchise made in the offseason, Waters was a pillar on a New England offensive line that saw plenty of rotation. He was the only guy to start all 16 games at his position (right guard), and was a legitimate Pro Bowler. Durable (he was second on the offense in total snaps played to Brady), businesslike (he was described by Belichick as a “pro’s pro” with less than a month in the system) and talented (PFF had him graded out as the Patriots’ best pass-blocker with a grade of +19.3 — the next best lineman was at a +4.8), he will be missed greatly if he does decide to retire.

5. Tight end Aaron Hernandez: He had a dip through the middle part of the season (likely because of a knee injury), but every time that Rob Gronkowski struggled this season, Hernandez stepped up. That includes the Super Bowl, where the tight end (in name only) out of Florida had a team-high eight catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. While Gronkowski continues to get the lion’s share of the headlines, Hernandez is almost as important when it comes to the success of the passing game. His versatility (he’s lined up at four different spots on the field), speed and knowledge of the game make him one of the most dangerous young pass catchers in the league.

4. Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork: Best year of his career. Regardless of his struggles in the Super Bowl, like Wes Welker, the team wouldn’t have made it all the way to the first week of February without him. Because there were so many new faces along New England’s defensive line, he was asked to play a lot more snaps this season than in years past, but handled the increased workload without a problem. Like Gronkowski, he’s a truly dominant force for whom opposing teams have to game plan on a consistent basis.

3. Tight end Rob Gronkowski: He wasn’t himself in the Super Bowl because of his left ankle injury, but he played 96 percent of the snaps this season, and was absolutely integral to the success of the New England offense, both as a pass catcher and as a blocker. Providing he gets over his injury, there’s no reason to think that Gronkowski won’t be an elite tight end in the NFL for the next 10 years. A frightening mixture of size and speed, when healthy, he’s capable of dominating a game. Paired with Hernandez, they make the sort of combination that will give defensive coordinators nightmares for years.

2. Wide receiver Wes Welker: Regardless of how things ended, the wide receiver remains a central part of the offense. He started the season on a record-breaking pace, but had to settle for merely a great year as opposed to one of the best in league history. He will likely be back for at least one more season on the franchise tag, but both sides certainly want to get a long-term deal (three to four years) done as soon as possible.

1. Quarterback Tom Brady: Everything flows through the quarterback, who remains the most important player on the roster. Brady had problems at times throughout the year (perhaps associated with the left shoulder issue that flared up throughout the season), but in the end, it was still one of the five best years of his career.

Just six days removed from last Sunday’s Super Bowl loss to the Giants, Patriots coach Bill Belichick hit the links as a part of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am as the amateur playing partner of PGA golfer Ricky Barnes. Currently, the pair sits in a tie for seventh place in the tournament heading into Sunday’s final round.

After teeing off on the famed course’s par-3 17th hole, Belichick and University of Alabama coach Nick Saban, who was playing with former Crimson Tide golf standout Bud Cauley in a foursome with the perpetually hoodie-clad  coach (including during play on Saturday) and Barnes, spoke to CBS Sports’s Jim Nantz and Sir Nick Faldo. In addition to being critiqued on the finer points of their golf swings, both coaches, who are long-time friends talked about their time playing together in the tournament and blowing off steam after Super Bowl XLVI.

On what it was like playing together at Pebble Beach:
BB: “Oh it is. It’s awesome. It’s great to spend time with Nick and the pros here at Pebble Beach. It’s a great weekend.”
NS: “This is a fantastic place I’ve never been here before. This is my old friend and pal, and one of my real mentors in coaching and it’s great to be able to spend time with him as well.”

On playing so well with Barnes in the tournament despite not playing much golf in recent months:
BB: “Ricky Barnes has been playing great. He’s having a great tournament and he’s been carrying me the entire time out here. He’s going to have a back massage out here tonight.”

On what it’s been like after last week’s Super Bowl and the reactions from the gallery:
BB: “The reaction out here has been great. The fans have been great and it’s fun to be out here. It was a tough loss, a tough couple [of] days. But Pebble Beach is a great spot to take your mind off of some of the other problems we had.”

On making the cut with Barnes:
BB: “It’ll be fun. I’ve never done that before and played here on Sunday. I’m looking forward to that.”

Belichick is joined in the Pebble Beach field with other entrants with NFL ties including 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, Packers quarterback and newly minted league MVP Aaron Rodgers, former Jets coach and ESPN analyst Herm Edwards, and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who is playing with Tiger Woods this weekend.

Here’s video of Belichick and Saban chatting with the CBS crew after their round Saturday:

Rob Gronkowski should be ready for offseason workouts. (AP)

In the wake of his arthroscopic surgery Friday morning at Massachusetts General Hospital on his injured left ankle, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski should be OK to participate in the majority of offseason workout programs.

Noted sports injury expert Will Carroll of SI.com said there’s reason to believe New England is looking at a 4-6 week recovery time for the big tight end, which should allow him to be ready by mid-April and the start of offseason minicamps.

“He just had it cleaned out, from what I understand,” Carroll said. “I think that the fact they just went in and cleaned it out is a big positive. He’s got plenty of time to get back, even if it had been more serious.”

Gronkowski suffered the injury in the second half of the AFC championship win over the Ravens. He wore a walking boot for much of the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl but clearly was not himself in the Super Bowl against the Giants, catching just two balls for 26 yards in the loss.

Gronkowski, who insisted after the Super Bowl he would not have to have surgery, had his scope done by Patriots ankle specialist Dr. George Theodore, according to Pro Football Talk.

There are several other NFL stars who suffered high-ankle injuries over the course of the 2011 season, including Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Jets center Nick Mangold. Carroll indicated that there’s no real comparable situation when it comes to Gronkowski’s injury and rehab time because of who he is, but indicated that there shouldn’t be any concern when it comes to long-term effects.

“There’s not really a perfect comparison because he’s half tight end and half wide receiver,” he said. “There’s tons of high ankles out there, but they’re not long-term injuries.”

Liz Mullen of the SportsBusiness Journal was the first to report the news of the surgery.

Chad Ochocinco checks in at No. 50. (AP)

With the 2011 season in the rear-view mirror — and the Patriots facing a number of key personnel decisions — it seems like a good time to break down the current 53-man roster, taking a look at who might be the most valuable members of the franchise.

We arrived at this list by considering a combination of factors, including overall ability, positional versatility, expectations, contract situation and place on the depth chart. We also looked at what might be best described as intangibles — loosely defined as a mixture of clubhouse character and willingness to work. In all, it helped us determine the overall value of each player within the Patriots system.

A quick note: The 53 players were taken straight from New England’s postseason media guide, the most up-to-date listing available. That means injured players such as Andre Carter, Mike Wright, Jermaine Cunningham, Dan Koppen and Ras-I Dowling, as well as practice squadders are not included for purposes of this exercise.

We start with No. 53 through No. 26.

53. Safety Sergio Brown: Fewer players slid down the depth chart as precipitously as Brown, who opened the season in a regular rotation at safety (he played every snap of a Week 3 loss to Buffalo) but saw virtually zero meaningful snaps after the Week 12 win over Philadelphia. His low point was a costly pass interference penalty in the regular-season loss to the Giants that set up the game-winning score.

52. Linebacker Gary Guyton: Guyton began the year as a starter, but like Brown, slid quickly down the depth chart. A solid locker room presence and good buddy of Jerod Mayo, he will almost certainly be elsewhere next season.

51. Safety Malcolm Williams: A defensive back who was a seventh-round pick of the Patriots last April, he saw limited action this season as a special teamer, getting into a December win over the Redskins.

50. Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco: The Patriots preach value, and there have been few instances of them getting less value for a player than New England got for Ochocinco in 2011. The wide receiver was the recipient of a $6 million base salary, and had just 15 catches on the season. Needless to say, if he does return, it will be with a reworked deal.

49. Defensive end Alex Silvestro: He will always be known to the world as The Guy Who Took Tiquan Underwood’s Spot The Day Before The Super Bowl, he’s someone the organization likes, but still needs more seasoning.

48. Defensive back Nathan Jones: A late-season pickup who bounced around the league before landing with the Patriots, he was thrown right into the action as soon as he showed up — four days after he was signed, he started at corner against the Colts. A veteran, if he is back next season, it will be to provide depth in the secondary.

47. Long snapper Danny Aiken: No problems this season from Aiken at the long snapper spot, as the New England specialists had a good season.

46. Offensive lineman Donald Thomas: A youngster out of UConn, he was used sparingly for a snap here or there throughout the course of the regular season until the regular-season finale. A youngster who provides good depth along the offensive line.

45. Linebacker Niko Koutouvides: A good complementary player, Koutouvides provided depth on special teams and the occasional snap on defense. (The sight of him split wide in coverage late in the year against the Colts was one of the more interesting images of the season.)

44. Fullback Lousaka Polite: A solid locker room presence in his relatively short time with the Patriots, he played just 24 snaps in his four games with New England, including 14 in the postseason. It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do with Polite going forward, as they haven’t had a full-time, traditional fullback on the roster for a full season since Heath Evans in 2008.

43. Running back Shane Vereen: The rookie never seemed to recover after an early hamstring issue kept him on the shelf for an extended stretch (he was only involved in three games this past season), but it will be interesting to see what he can do with a full offseason in the facility. There may be some shuffling at the running back position this offseason (veteran Kevin Faulk could retire, while BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a free agent), and as a result, there could be some opportunities there for Vereen in 2012.

42. Quarterback Ryan Mallett: The rookie didn’t play at all in the regular season, but was a good teammate who, by all accounts, kept his eyes and ears open and his mouth shut. As has always been the case, it’s curious what the endgame will be between Mallett and the Patriots. Is he trade bait? Or is he in New England’s future plans?

41. Defensive lineman Ron Brace: After starting the year on PUP, he never seemed to get on track, and was using sparingly throughout the season when he wasn’t an occasionally healthy scratch. He still remains the primary backup defensive tackle.

40. Center/Guard Nick McDonald: McDonald was one of four different centers the Patriots employed this past season, getting the start in Week 13 and 14, and played about as well as could be expected. He wasn’t much of a factor the rest of the way, but his positional versatility is important, and if Brian Waters does retire, he figures to move up the depth chart.

39. Cornerback Antuwan Molden: Like Jones, he was immediately thrown into the mix as soon as he arrived in Foxboro. He went up and down the depth chart — there were three games where he played only one snap, while he also played significant snaps in the Super Bowl. Depending on what the Patriots do in free agency and the draft, he could return to more of a complementary role in 2012.

38. Offensive lineman Marcus Cannon: A great story because of what he was able to overcome over the last year, he provides depth at the tackle spot. Another player who will benefit from having a full year in the system without a lockout.

37. Linebacker Tracy White: Along with Matthew Slater, White is one of two of the most important members of the Patriots’ special teamers who aren’t specialists (Mesko, Gostkowski). He occasionally gets reps at linebacker — including a surprising start in the Super Bowl. White is never going to be an All-Pro, but he’s become an integral part of the system in New England.

36. Quarterback Brian Hoyer: A restricted free agent, it’s debatable that another team would pay the price when it comes to signing him away. At the same time, with the level of quarterback play across the league suffering, it’s not a crazy proposition, especially for someone like Hoyer who has experience in the New England system. One to watch closely this offseason.

35. Linebacker Dane Fletcher: A thumb injury set him back this season, but the rookie free agent has played his way into a fairly regular spot in the New England linebacking corps. He still has some issues from time to time (including in pass defense), but Rob Gronkowski’s housemate appears to have a secure spot in the team going forward.

34. Defensive lineman Shaun Ellis: Ellis was a bit of a mixed bag this season, struggling with injury at times. In addition, like many new members of New England’s defensive line, he occasionally appeared to have issues picking up the shift in scheme. It’ll be curious to see if the 34-year-old returns for another year with the Patriots.

33. Running back Kevin Faulk: We’ve stuck a personal favorite on his own No. 33 as a small tribute to what he’s meant to the franchise over the years. Eminently dependable, he’s one of the most respected guys in the New England locker room. His numbers have slipped in recent years, but few people command as much respect throughout the organization as Faulk. If this is the end for Faulk, he’ll be remembered as one of the most consistently underrated parts of the Patriots’ run of success over the last 10 years.

32. Safety James Ihedigbo: Because of some personnel moves and injuries, the defensive back was forced into playing more time than the team had initially planned over the course of the season. He ended up starting 12 games at safety, and remained a mostly positive presence on New England’s back end against the run and on special teams, but was occasionally exposed in coverage. A free agent, he will likely return if both sides can make the money work.

31. Defensive lineman Gerard Warren: “Big Money” did everything the Patriots asked of him this season and while the Patriots did a good job managing his playing time, he was productive against the run and the pass. He’s 33 years old and facing free agency, but if he’s healthy and wants to come back, I could see the Patriots signing him for one more season.

30. Defensive end Brandon Deaderick: He’s had a bit of a checkered start to his time in New England (a brief suspension as a rookie and a stint on PUP in 2011), but when he’s been healthy, he’s been an active part of New England’s defensive line. Depending on what the Patriots decide to do with some of their vets, he could be in line for more snaps in 2012.

29. Center/Guard Ryan Wendell: One of three center/guard combos for the Patriots, Wendell struggled with a calf injury that limited for a sizable portion of the season. Wendell is who he is — a quality backup who can provide solid depth at three spots on the offensive line. He could be in line for more snaps depending on what happens with impending free agent center Dan Koppen or veteran right guard Brian Waters, who could possibly retire.

28. Center/Guard Dan Connolly: The Patriots have a big decision to make when it comes to Connolly: If they feel secure enough in letting veteran center Dan Koppen leave as a free agent, it appears that Connolly will get the first crack at the job, as he was the primary center this season after Koppen went down in the regular-season opener. Connolly has played all three interior line spots for extended stretches, and done a serviceable job at all three spots over the course of his career, but it would be interesting to see his professional development if he was left alone to play one spot.

27. WR/KR/DB Julian Edelman: Few players were asked to do more in 2011 than Edelman, who lined up on offense (as a wide receiver), defense (as a defensive back) and special teams (as a returner). He’ll never be confused with a Pro Bowl corner, but he’s one guy who people will be watching closely in offseason workouts, minicamp and training camp to see where he gets the bulk of his reps.

26. Special teamer Matt Slater: One of the most unfailingly polite guys in the New England locker room, it’s safe to say the entire roster was happy for Slater and the success he enjoyed in 2011. The most important non-specialist among the Patriots’ special teamers, his attitude, leadership and speed (he’s the fastest guy on the team) are all attributes the franchise

Mario Williams (AP)

Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline has released the list of his top NFL free agents heading into the offseason, with Houston defensive lineman Mario Williams topping the bunch. Prisco points out that the 27-year-old Williams — who has totaled 53 sacks in 5 1/2 seasons with the Texans — will most likely not be franchised by Houston due to the $22 million hit Houston would have to deal with.

So, with if Williams does hit the market — undoubtedly primed to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL — would the Patriots be wise to bank of the Brinks truck to find their elusive outside-edge pass rusher?

Williams has played both outside linebacker in a 3-4 system, and defensive end in a 4-3 (which Prisco surmises might fit him better). And it’s not as if the Patriots haven’t gone down a similar road before, having inked free agent outside linebacker Adalius Thomas to five-year, $35 million ($20 million guaranteed) deal prior to the 2007 season. Williams will surely cost more than Thomas did, but he is also hitting the free agent market three years younger. And, as was the case heading into that offseason prior to ’07, the Patriots are currently in solid shape salary cap-wise.

There are some other players in Prisco’s top 10 who should also pique the interest of the Patriots, such as 25-year-old cornerback Brandon Carr of the Chiefs, 25-year-old defensive end Cliff Avril of the Lions (19 1/2 sacks past two seasons), or even 27-year-old Kansas City wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

Oh, and by the way, Wes Welker is the only Patriot on Prisco’s list, coming at No. 18.

But it is Williams who will raise the most eyebrows when names start flying around this offseason. Let the conversation begin …

(To read Prisco’s entire list, click here.)

Quarterback hits
Defensive end Mark Anderson: 4
Linebacker Rob Ninkovich: 4
Defenisve lineman Vince Wilfork: 3
Linebacker Brandon Spikes: 2
Cornerback Kyle Arrington: 1
Defensive end Brandon Deaderick: 1
Safety James Ihedigbo: 1
Linebacker Jerod Mayo: 1
Defensive tackle Kyle Love: 1
Linebacker Dane Fletcher: 1
Defensive lineman Shaun Ellis: 1
Linebacker Niko Koutouvides: 1

Sacks:
Anderson: 2.5 (16 yards)
Wilfork 2.5 (14.5 yards)
Ninkovich: 2 (12.5 yards)
Deaderick: 1 (2 yards)
Ihedigbo: 1 (12 yards)
Spikes: 1 (4 yards)
Ellis: 1 (5 yards)

Most penalized players, listed by total flags and with total yardage lost:
S Patrick Chung: one penalty (unnecessary roughness), 15 yards
Team: two penalties (both 12 men on the field), 10 yards
OL Brian Waters: one penalty (offensive holding), 10 yards
QB Ton Brady: one penalty (intentional grounding), 6 yards
DL Vince Wifork: one penalty (encroachment), 5 yards
LB Rob Ninkovich: one penalty (offsides), 5 yards
OL Logan Mankins, one penalty (false start), 2 yards

Most penalized by position:
Offensive line: two penalties for 12 yards
Team: two penalties for 10 yards
Safety: one penalty for 15 yards
Quarterback: one penalty for 6 yards
Linebacker: one penalty for 5 yards
Defensive line: one penalty for 5 yards

Most frequently called penalties:
12 men on the field: 2
Unnecessary roughness: 1
Offensive holding: 1
Intentional Grounding: 1
Encroachment: 1
Offsides: 1
False start: 1

Wes Welker tied for the team lead in targets this postseason and led the team in receptions. (AP)

Targets have been compiled by the NFL since the start of the 2009 season, and while it remains an imperfect stat — a badly thrown ball from a quarterback can often go against the record of the receiver as opposed to the quarterback — it remains a good indication of the confidence level a passer might have in his pass catcher. We had the target breakdown for the New England passing game for the 2011 regular season — here’s what the postseason breakdown looks like:

Chad Ochocinco: 1 catch on 1 target (100 percent)
Wes Welker: 19 catches on 23 targets (83 percent)
Danny Woodhead: 5 catches on 6 targets (83 percent)
Rob Gronkowski: 17 catches on 23 targets (74 percent)
BenJarvus Green-Ellis: 3 catches on 5 targets (60 percent)
Deion Branch: 8 catches on 13 targets (62 percent)
Aaron Hernandez: 19 catches on 31 targets (61 percent)
Julian Edelman: 2 catches on 5 targets (40 percent)
Stevan Ridley: 0 catches on 1 target (0 percent)
Matthew Slater: 0 catches on 1 target (0 percent)

By position
Wide receiver: 30 catches on 43 targets (70 percent)
Tight end: 36 catches on 54 targets (67 percent)
Running back: 8 catches on 12 targets (67 percent)

The sample size for the postseason is smaller, but it’s interesting to note that when you compare the regular-season percentages against the postseason number that Gronkowski’s percentage was almost the same (74 percent in the playoffs, 73 percent in the regular season). And among the receivers who see the most passes, Welker’s numbers increased dramatically between the regular season (71 percent) and postseason (83 percent), while Hernandez saw a sharp drop in his percentage from the regular season to the postseason (70 to 61 percent).

“I’m actually very excited about the core group of players we have on this team, about the young players that have come in,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a press conference on Monday. “I’m also excited that we have two (first-round draft picks) and two (second-round draft picks) in this upcoming draft.”

In addition, the Patriots also have a third-round pick at No. 94, as well as a fourth-round pick that’s TBD.

New England has dealt away its fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round selections in various deals the last few seasons, with the fifth-rounder going to Cincinnati in exchange for Chad Ochocinco, the sixth-round pick to Philadelphia in a deal that landed the Patriots linebacker Tracy White, and the seventh rounders to Kansas City (for Jarrad Page) and Minnesota (via Philadelphia) as part of the 2010 trade of Randy Moss.